Radiation Oncology Careers

The page provides information about careers in radiation therapy.

Page last updated: 04 February 2014

Radiation oncology uses radiation to treat diseases such as cancer, using radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is now one of the best-established, most effective and well tolerated therapies for treating nearly all types of cancers.

A number of qualified professionals work together to deliver cancer care through radiation therapy: Radiation Oncologists, Radiation Therapists and Medical Physicists.

Radiation Oncologist

- a doctor who has post-graduate training in managing patients with cancer, in particular, using radiation therapy. A Radiation Oncologist will work closely with other medical specialists, Radiation Therapists and Radiation Physicists as part of a multi-disciplinary team caring for patients with cancer.

Radiation Therapist

- a key member of the professional team that manages the cancer patient's treatment. In conjunction with the Radiation Oncologists they are responsible for the design, accurate calculation and delivery of a prescribed radiation dose over a course of treatment to the patient.

Medical Physicist

- can work in one of many different health areas. Most typically, they would be involved with the commissioning, calibration, safe operation and maintenance of systems used for looking at or measuring what is happening in the body, for example those using x-rays, ultrasound, light in various frequencies; laser Doppler blood flow measurement; magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear medicine.